What Does a Tow Cost in California? (2026 Guide)
A tow is two charges: a flat hookup fee and a per-mile rate. Everything else (time of day, vehicle type, recovery work, storage) moves the total up from there. Here is what to expect and what to ask before the truck rolls.
CALL (530) 490-5352Towing Rates in California: The Short Answer
Towing rates for a car in California run $75 to $125 for the hookup, which usually covers the first five miles, plus $3 to $5 for each mile after that. A 10-mile tow lands near $90 to $150 and a 20-mile tow near $120 to $200. Nights, holidays, flatbeds and winching push towing prices higher, so the operator quotes the final price before dispatch.
Typical Towing Rates and Roadside Prices
These are the ranges drivers typically see for a light-duty tow (cars, pickups, SUVs) in the Woodland and Yolo County area. Prices in the Bay Area and Los Angeles tend to run higher; rural stretches add more miles.
| Service | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Local tow (hookup + first miles) | $75 – $125 |
| Each additional mile | $3 – $5 |
| Jump start | $50 – $100 |
| Lockout | $50 – $100 |
| Flat tire change | $50 – $100 |
| Fuel delivery | $50 – $100 + fuel |
| Winch-out / recovery | $75 – $250+ |
Typical market ranges, not a price list. After-hours, holidays and specialty equipment can run higher. The operator quotes your final price before dispatch.
Quick math: a 20-mile tow at a $100 hookup and $4 a mile beyond the first few included miles lands somewhere around $160 to $180. A 60-mile tow can pass $300. Distance is the number that moves the most.
How Much to Tow a Car 10, 20, 30 or 60 Miles
A rough range for a light-duty tow, using the typical rates above: a $75 to $125 hookup that covers the first 5 miles, then $3 to $5 for each mile after that. Some operators include more miles in the hookup, some fewer.
| Tow Distance | Rough Total |
|---|---|
| 5 miles (across Woodland) | $75 – $125 |
| 10 miles (Woodland to Davis) | $90 – $150 |
| 20 miles (Woodland to Sacramento) | $120 – $200 |
| 30 miles | $150 – $250 |
| 60 miles | $240 – $400 |
Work out your own distance
Rough total: $120 – $200
A rough estimate from typical market ranges, not a quote. Flatbeds, nights, holidays, winching and heavy vehicles can run higher. The operator quotes your final price before dispatch.
Towing Cost Per Mile
Once you pass the miles included in the hookup, the per-mile towing rate in the Woodland area is $3 to $5. That is the number to ask about on the phone: a quote of “$100 plus $4 a mile after the first five” is complete, and “$100” on its own is not. The distance table above uses those same per-mile rates, so a 30-mile tow at $4 a mile adds about $100 to the hookup.
Six Things That Change the Total
1. Distance
The hookup fee usually covers loading the car and the first few miles. After that, every mile is billed. Before you pick a destination, compare the shop across town with the dealer an hour away. The closer shop can save more than the repair quote difference.
2. Time of day
Nights, weekends and holidays often carry a higher rate because the operator is paying a driver to be on call. If the car is safely parked and you can wait until morning, ask what the daytime price would be.
3. Vehicle type
Cars, small pickups and SUVs go on a standard light-duty truck. All-wheel-drive vehicles usually need a flatbed so the drivetrain is not damaged, and some operators charge more for it. Lowered cars, large pickups, dually trucks, RVs and anything over the light-duty weight limit need different equipment and cost more.
4. Winching and recovery
If the car is in a ditch, on soft ground, down an embankment or stuck in mud, getting it back to pavement is a separate charge, often by time and difficulty. That is why winch-out has the widest range in the table. A winch-out on firm ground is quick; a recovery from a steep drop can take an hour or more.
5. Waiting time
If the driver arrives and has to wait (for keys, for a property manager to open a gate, for an officer to clear the scene), some operators bill waiting time after a grace period. Have keys and access ready.
6. Storage
If the car goes to a tow yard instead of straight to a shop or your home, storage is charged by the day, and the days add up fast. Pick a destination you can deliver to directly whenever possible, and pick the car up quickly if it does end up in a yard.
How Much Does It Cost To Get Your Car Out of a Tow Yard
Getting a car out of a tow yard costs the tow itself, a storage charge for every day it sat there, and often a gate fee if you collect it after hours. Daily storage at California yards generally runs $50 to $120, so a car left for a week can cost more in storage than in towing. If the police ordered the tow, the city adds its own release fee before the yard will hand the car over: in Woodland that is $211 (city fee schedule, 2026).
California law gives you a few protections at the counter. The yard must hand you an itemized invoice before you pay, with the storage rate, the number of days and any gate fee as separate lines, and it must take a bank credit card as well as cash (Vehicle Code 22651.07 and 22651.1). Bring your ID and proof the car is yours, and pick it up the same day if you can. Storage is the one fee that keeps growing while you wait.
How California Handles Tow Pricing
There are two very different kinds of tow, and they are priced differently.
A tow you call for yourself (a breakdown, a dead battery, a car that will not start) is a private service. The operator sets the price, which is why it varies from company to company and why you should always ask for the full quote before agreeing.
A tow someone else orders (police removing a car after a collision or from a no-parking zone, or a property owner removing a car from a private lot) follows rules set by the local agency or by state law, and those rules typically limit what can be charged and require posted rates and itemized bills. If your car was towed this way, the agency that ordered it or the yard holding it can tell you the applicable rates.
When in doubt, ask for an itemized receipt. A reputable operator will give you one without hesitation.
Five Questions To Ask on the Phone
- What is the total, all in? Hookup, mileage to my destination, and any after-hours charge.
- How many miles does the hookup include? Then do the math on the rest.
- Will it be a flatbed or a wheel-lift? Important for all-wheel drive and low cars.
- How do you take payment? Card, cash, or app, so there are no surprises at drop-off.
- When will you get here? A realistic ETA lets you decide whether to wait or arrange a ride.
Check what you already have
Many car insurance policies, new-car warranties and some credit cards include roadside or towing coverage, often with a mileage cap. It takes a minute to check your insurance app before you pay out of pocket. If you do not have coverage, pay-as-you-go roadside assistance means no membership and you only pay for the call you make.
Cheaper Fixes That Avoid a Tow
The cheapest tow is the one you do not need. A dead battery usually just needs a jump start. A flat with a good spare needs a tire change, not a truck. Keys locked inside need a lockout service. Each of these typically costs less than the hookup fee alone, so describe the problem accurately when you call and let the operator tell you whether a tow is really needed.
Tow Fee Questions
How much is a tow fee?
For a light-duty tow in the Woodland area, the fee is typically a $75 to $125 hookup that covers loading the car and the first few miles, plus $3 to $5 for each mile after that. A short tow across town often lands near the hookup price; a 30-mile tow typically lands somewhere between $150 and $250.
Do towing rates go up at night or on weekends?
Often, yes. Many operators charge more after hours and on holidays. If the car is parked safely and you can wait, ask what the daytime rate would be.
Is a tow cheaper if I only need a jump or a tire change?
Yes. A jump start, tire change, lockout or fuel delivery typically runs $50 to $100, less than the hookup fee alone. If your car won’t start or the key won’t turn, describe what happens when you call and the operator can say whether a tow is really needed.
Does it cost money to have someone’s car towed off your property?
Usually not for you. When a car is towed from private property under California’s rules (posted signs, a licensed operator, written authorization), the towing and storage are billed to the car’s owner when they claim it, not to the property owner who ordered the tow. The yard may not charge more than a police-ordered tow would cost, and if the driver comes back while the car is still on the property it has to be released on the spot, for at most half the towing charge if it was already hooked up (Vehicle Code 22658).
How much can a towing company legally charge in California?
For a tow you call yourself there is no state price cap: the price is whatever you agree to before the hook goes on, which is why you ask for the full quote first. For tows ordered by police or a property owner, the rates are the ones approved by the local agency or the Highway Patrol for that operator, the yard has to post them and show them on request, and the bill has to be itemized.
Does insurance cover towing?
Often, if your policy includes roadside assistance or towing coverage, and after an accident collision coverage usually pays for the tow. Liability-only coverage usually does not. Many plans cover a tow to the nearest shop or up to a set distance, so check your insurance app or card before you call anyone.
Do towing companies charge per day for storage?
Yes. Once a car is at a tow yard, storage is charged for every day it sits there, so pick it up as soon as you can. The yard has to post its rates and show them to you on request.
How much is a tow truck for 10 miles?
About $90 to $150 in the Woodland area: the $75 to $125 hookup covers roughly the first five miles, then $3 to $5 for each mile after that. The distance table above shows 20, 30 and 60 miles too.
Want an Exact Quote Before Dispatch?
CALL (530) 490-5352Need help now? Start with roadside assistance in Woodland, or see what a jump start or a winch-out involves. After a collision, see accident towing; for a planned move, vehicle transport is quoted per trip. Woodland Towing connects stranded drivers with independent local tow operators; final pricing is quoted before dispatch.